A lamp burned in the kitchen, and when they went in Peter got up and put his pipe on the table.

He looked at them with some surprise, but waited without embarrassment.

Indeed, Kit thought his father was curiously dignified.
"Mr.Osborn has something to say he wants you to hear," Kit remarked.
"Although the thing's really my business, I agreed." Osborn refused the chair Peter indicated and stood in a stiff pose.

His face was red and he looked rather ridiculously savage.
"I found your son and my daughter hiding from me in the hedge at Redmire wood," he said.

"I imagine I'm entitled to ask for an explanation." "Hiding ?" said Peter, who turned to Kit.